British electronic music pioneer Dave Angel returns to R&S Records with ‘A Time And Place’, a 15-track album shaped by his lifelong relationship with music, family, nature and the cultures that have surrounded him throughout his career.
The release marks another chapter in Dave’s long association with the influential Belgian label, which stretches back more than 30 years. For this project, he looks beyond his established electronic music work to explore the Jazz, Soul and improvisational sounds that formed part of his early musical education.
Much of the album draws from life away from the studio. Family is a recurring presence, with several tracks inspired by his children and grandchildren and the different experiences, memories and moments they have shared. The natural world also features throughout the record, with encounters by the sea, in woodland and with wildlife providing inspiration for a number of compositions.
Dave also turns his attention to the musical communities and experiences that have influenced him over the years. ‘Glitterati’ looks back to the collective spirit surrounding the 1988 rave movement, while ‘Ride On A Magic Carpet’ recalls the informal listening sessions and shared musical experiences that followed club nights during the 1990s.
There is a more serious edge to ‘Apocalypse’, which considers uncertainty around the state of the world, humanity and our relationship with the planet. It sits alongside the album’s more intimate material, creating a record that moves between personal memories, cultural history and observations on contemporary life.
Guest appearances add further character to the album, with Steve Waterman, Robert Owens, Merv Carswell and Aurii Sky contributing across the record. Waterman’s trumpet features on ‘Réflexion’ and ‘The Yellow Butterfly’, while Owens appears on ‘Harmony Serenade’ and Carswell contributes guitar to ‘Sprinkles From Above’.
From deeply personal family moments and encounters with nature to reflections on rave culture, Jazz heritage and the wider world, ‘A Time And Place’ brings together decades of musical experience in one cohesive and deeply considered body of work. Stream & purchase the album here.